A Black-tailed Godwit flew around at
18:20, at least 80 Swallows, 15 House Martins and 35 Sand Martins
were over the lakes and 13 Tufted Ducks were on the Swag (GE). A
Common Sandpiper, 3 Wheatears, 4 Common Terns and Sedge
Warbler were present and Willow Tits are nesting near Fly Bay
(GR, PW).

3rd

2 Ruff, including a full breeding plumaged
male, flew in during the evening (GR) and a
Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, 7 Teal, a Yellow Wagtail,
240 hirundines, mainly Swallows and Sand Martins (GE), a Wheatear
and 2 Grey Partridges were also present (PW).

A Whinchat was on Cuckoo Bank (BM).

4th

A male Whinchat was at Norton Bog and 4
Wheatears on the North Shore (GR). Four Common Sandpipers were
present (VT, JT) and during the evening there was a Sanderling,
Dunlin, Ringed Plover and 6 Little Ringed Plovers on
the South Shore (GE).

5th

Sat

Sanderling (GE)

The Sanderling was still present along with a
Common Sandpiper, 2 Wheatears, a Common Tern and 15 Lesser
Black-backed Gulls (GE, PW).

6th

Sun

A different Sanderling from yesterday's was present
until mid-afternoon when it fell victim to a passing Sparrowhawk!
Also present were several Little Ringed Plovers, a Ringed Plover,
2 Oystercatchers, 3 Common
Terns, a Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo and 1-2 singing Reed Warblers
around Norton Bog Lagoon where a pair of Great Crested Grebes have
two young. 14 Tufted Ducks, 4 Great Crested Grebes and a brood of
Mallard was on the Swag (GE, NS, PW).

Sanderling (GE)

Little Grebe Pool

On Cuckoo Bank there was a reeling Grasshopper
Warbler, Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroats and a Little Grebe. The
only reed-bed on site has been badly affected by grazing (GE).

The reed-bed

7th

In Jack's Wood there was a Tawny Owl and a
Nuthatch was heard. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling
on the North Shore heath (NS). 2 Wheatears on the south shore showed
characteristics of the race leucorhoa
in being large, very upright and dark toned with the male
particularly deep 'peach' on the throat and upper breast. A
Yellow Wagtail and 60 Swallows were noted but perhaps the most
unpredicted occurrence was that of one of two Jackdaws actually
landing on the shore; something I can't remember having seen at
Chasewater in 44 years of watching! Three pairs of Little Ringed
Plovers were on the south shore but there was little evidence to
indicate they were still on active nests (GE).

8th

Another Sanderling was present along with
3 Ringed Plovers and a total of at least 19 Little Ringed
Plovers. There would appear to be at least 12 pairs with
territories. 2 Red-legged Partridges were on the shore, a
Willow Tit was carrying food on the west shore and 2 Common
Terns, a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Wheatears were also
present (GE, PW).

9th

A Lesser Whitethroat was in the scrub at
the end of Fly Bay and an Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed
Plovers, 2 Common Terns, a Cuckoo and a Wheatear were
also seen (PW).

10th

No Records.

11th

Up to 4 Dunlin were present along with a
Common Sandpiper and 3 Common Terns (PW, GE). A Dingy Skipper
was seen on the embankment between the Swag and Norton Bog Lagoon
(RD).

12th

A Cuckoo was frequently calling over Norton
Bog whilst another called as it flew high and directly south over
the lake. A Sedge Warbler was singing in the inundated willows north
of the 'Island' and 150 Lesser Black-backs and 1-2 Herring Gulls
gathered to roost. 3 Red Deer were on the North heath where a
Grasshopper Warbler was reeling. A Wheatear and 2
Red-legged Partridges were on the Sailing Shore and 14 Little
Ringed Plovers were present along the shore between the causeway
ad the dam (GE). A Tawny Owl was heard calling at night near
the Swag (JHop).

13th

An Osprey was seen flying over to the
north of the lake at 09:05 and soared high, leaving to the
north-west at 09:08 (GT). The Friends of Norton Bog work-party attracted a
good turnout and birds noted onsite were 10 Red Deer, 2 high flying
Ravens, a singing Garden Warbler, 7+ singing Reed
Warblers, 3+ Green Woodpeckers, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a
Cuckoo, 2 Buzzards, 40 Swifts, a calling Little Grebe and the
Great Crested Grebes still have two youngsters (GE). Green
Hairstreaks were seen on the heath near the OEC and a Tawny
Owl was in Jack's Wood (NS).

The three pools at the south end of Cuckoo Bank
all held several teneral Large Red Damselflies (NS).

On Gentleshaw Common there was a male
Stonechat and 41 Red Deer were in the fields behind the Redmore
Inn (GR).

14th

A Whimbrel flew off the 'Island' to the
south at around 19:00, 2 Wheatears were present (PW) and on
the South Shore there were 3 Ringed Plovers, a Dunlin
and 4+ Little Ringed Plovers and a Common Sandpiper was on the
Sailing Shore (GE).

A Hobby, a Sanderling, a Dunlin,
an Oystercatcher, 2 Common
Sandpipers, 6 Little Ringed Plovers, 2 Common Terns and 4 Wheatears were noted
(PW, CM).

17th

An Oystercatcher, 2
Ringed Plovers, a Wheatear were noted and a breeding plumaged Grey Plover
was present until at least 16:30 (PW).

18th

A Dunlin and a Ringed Plover were
on the South Shore where 2 Carrion Crows mobbed a passing Cuckoo
(GE).

19th

Sat

During the morning there were 3 Dunlin, a
Ringed Plover and 8 waders, probably Ringed Plovers, flew
through (PW). A Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 3 Common Terns
and 200 hirundines/Swifts were present during the afternoon (GE).

Dunlin (GE)

Sanderling (GE)

20th

Sun

Tawny Owl (NS)

A Grey Plover was present on the Sailing Shore
during the very early morning, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin and
a
Ringed Plover were also present and a Tawny Owl was in
Jack's Wood (NS). Over 100 Swifts and 2 Common Terns were over the
lake but the 3 pairs of Little Ringed Plovers on the South Shore
were being constantly, and innocently, disturbed by dog walkers from
the 'Wet Noses and Waggy Tails Canine Awareness Day' who had not
effectively been made aware of the breeding Schedule 1 birds
immediately adjacent to the showground. The only attempt to inform
the public was an insert to the event programme which advertised the
show sponsors and on the back referred to 'Sensitive areas at
Chasewater' in which Little Ringed Plovers were vaguely mentioned
but so were the Nightjars nesting in the heather! (GE).

Grey Plover (NS)

21st

2 Common Sandpipers, a Dunlin, a
Ringed Plover and 2 Common Terns were present (PW). The evening
gathering of 260 large gulls on the West Shore included 26 Herring
Gull types of which at least 7 (2 2cy, 5 3cy) were Yellow-legged
Gulls. 2 Great Black-backs and 24 Black-headed Gulls were
also present (GE).

On Cuckoo Bank, ten pairs of Grasshopper
Warblers have been located so far (DO).

22nd

A Ringed Plover and the usual Little
Ringed Plovers were present but there were many dog walkers on
the shore (PW).

23rd

A Cuckoo and 4 Common Terns were
present and the pair of Little Ringed Plovers on the West
Shore were seen to mate. The evening gathering of about 140 large
gulls included at least 4 (1 2cy, 3 3cy) Yellow-legged Gulls
and a 2cy Great Black-backed Gull. 36 Black-headed Gulls were
also present (GE). Both Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies were
seen at Norton Bog (EO).

24th

A Grey Plover was flying around at 19:40
and an Oystercatcher arrived at 20:20. 5 Common Terns were
present but no large gulls had gathered by 20:30 (GE).

25th

A Dunlin flew through during the morning (PW)
and a Sanderling was present during the evening along with 2
Common Terns (GE).

Sanderling (GE)

26th

Sat

Sanderling (GE)

Another Sanderling was present
along with 2 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers and a
Common Tern. A Common Blue and Dingy Skipper were by the
'Newt Pool' and several Red-eyed Damselflies and Blue-tailed
Damselflies were at Anglesey Basin where there were also only small
patches of Round-leaved Sundew and Deer Grass; both
need careful monitoring and management (GE).

27th

Sun

A Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpipers
and a Common Tern were present and 16 Little Ringed Plovers
were counted without covering the South Shore where there are
usually 3 pairs attempting to nest. Two Cuckoos were calling
and 'bubbling' on Norton Bog where there were 15 Dingy Skippers,
6 Four-spotted Chasers, several Large Red, Azure and Common
Blue Damselflies and a Brimstone. 2-3 Green
Hairstreaks were still on the North Shore and Sailing Shore
heaths and 2 Dingy Skippers were on the old Raceway. Small
Heaths, Common Blues, Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacock,
Green-veined White and Small Whites were also on the wing (GE). An
Eyed Hawkmoth was also found on the dam wall (JWo).

Eyed Hawkmoth

(J Woodcock)

28th

A Dunlin, Ringed Plover
and 2 Common Terns
were present (PW).

29th

3 Oystercatchers and 3 Common Terns
were present (PW). During the evening a Redshank was present
and 3 (2cy, 2 3cy) Yellow-legged Gulls were amongst a
gathering of 22 Lesser Black-backs (GE).

30th

5 Ringed Plovers were noted,
including 3 that flew through (PW). A very late evening visit
produced 98 Black-headed Gulls but only around 10 large gulls (GE).